Processing element and image-forming method using same

Abstract

Disclosed is a processing element which includes a silver halide solvent represented by a general formula (1) and which has a function of efficiently fixing undeveloped silver halide remaining in a photosensitive element after developing without any harmful influence, and an image-forming method using the processing element, the general formula (1) being ##STR1## wherein R 1 and R 2 each represent an aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A processing element comprising a treatment layer consisting essentially of binder and a silver halide solvent represented by a general formula (1): ##STR166## wherein R 1  and R 2  each represent an unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group. 
     
     
       2. A processing element according to claim 1, further comprising a neutralizer. 
     
     
       3. A processing element according to claim 2, wherein the neutralizer is an acid or an acid precursor. 
     
     
       4. A processing element according to claim 3, wherein the acid is an acid polymer. 
     
     
       5. An image-forming method for forming an image on a photosensitive element comprising steps: imagewise exposing the photosensitive element having a photosensitive layer comprising a support having thereon a silver halide and a binder;   thereafter, conducting developing processing of the photosensitive element in the presence of at least a base;   subsequently, superposing a photosensitive layer of the photosensitive element, which has been subjected to developing processing, and a processing element on each other in the presence of water in an amount in a range of from 1 cc/m 2  to 50 cc/m 2  between the photosensitive layer and the processing element;   heating the superposed composite at a temperature in a range of from 40° C. to 100° C. for a period of time in a range of from 2 seconds to 60 seconds; and   thereafter, separating the photosensitive element from the processing element, wherein   the processing element is the processing element according to claim 1.   
     
     
       6. An image-forming method according to claim 5, wherein the photosensitive layer further comprises a coupler. 
     
     
       7. An image-forming method for forming an image on a photosensitive element comprising steps: imagewise exposing the photosensitive element having a photosensitive layer comprising a support having thereon a silver halide, a color developing agent, a coupler and abinder;   thereafter, superimposing on each other a photosensitive layer of the photosensitive element, which has been subjected to the exposing treatment, and a processing layer of a developing processing element comprising a support having thereon a base and/or a base precursor, in the presence of water in an amount in a range of from 1 cc/m 2  to 50 cc/m 2  between the photosensitive layer and the treatment layer;   heating the superimposed composite at a temperature in a range of from 60° C. to 100° C. for a period of time in a range of from 5 seconds to 60 seconds;   thereafter, separating the photosensitive element from the developing processing element;   subsequently, superimposing the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive element, which has been subjected to developing processing, and a processing element on each other in the presence of water in an amount in a range of from 1 cc/m 2  to 50 cc/m 2  between the photosensitive layer and the processing element;   heating the superimposed composite at a temperature in a range of from 40° C. to 100° C. for a period of time in a range of from 2 seconds to 60 seconds; and   thereafter, separating the photosensitive element from the processing element, wherein   the processing element is the processing element according to claim 1.   
     
     
       8. An image-forming method according to claim 6, wherein the photosensitive element contains at least one of color developing agents represented by the following general formulae (2) to (6): ##STR167## wherein A represents a hydroxyl group, or an amino group with a substituent; X 2  represents a connecting group selected from the group consisting of --CO--, --SO--, --SO 2  -- and --(Q)PO--(wherein Q represents a monovalent group that bonds to a phosphorus atom); each of R 3  to R 6  represents a hydrogen atom a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylcarbonamide group, an arylcarbonamide group, an alkylsulfonamide group, an arylsulfonamide group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkylcarbamoyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a cyano group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group, a ureido group, a urethane group, or an acyloxy group; and R 7  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group; wherein R 3  and R 4 , and R 5  and R 6  may respectively be linked with each other to form a ring through coupling therebetween; and   wherein Z represents an atomic group forming an aromatic ring or aromatic heterocyclic ring and when Z is a benzene ring having substituents, the sum of Hammett's constants (σ) of the substituents is 1 or more; R 8  represents an alkyl group with or without a substituent; X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or a tertiary nitrogen atom with alkyl or aryl substituents; and R 9  and R 10  each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent and may be linked with each other to form a double bond or a ring.   
     
     
       9. An image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the photosensitive element includes at least one of color developing agents represented by the following general formulae (2) to (6). ##STR168## wherein A represents a hydroxyl group, or an amino group with a substituent; X 2  represents a connecting group selected from the group consisting of --CO--, --SO--, --SO 2  -- and --(Q)PO--(wherein Q represents a monovalent group that bonds to a phosphorus atom); each of R 3  to R 6  represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group an alkylcarbonamide group, an arylcarbonamide group, an alkylsulfonamide group, an arylsulfonamide group, an alkoxy group an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkylcarbamoyl group, an arylcarbamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, an arylsulfamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a cyano group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group an arylcarbonyl group, a ureido group, a urethane group, or an acyloxy group; and R 7  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group; wherein R 3  and R 4 , and R 5  and R 6  may respectively be linked with each other to form a ring through coupling therebetween; and   wherein Z represents an atomic group forming an aromatic ring or aromatic heterocyclic ring and when Z is a benzene ring having substituents, the sum of Hammett's constants (σ) of the substituents is 1 or more; R 8  represents an alkyl group with or without a substituent; X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or a tertiary nitrogen atom with alkyl or aryl substituents; and R 9  and R 10  each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent and may be linked with each other to form a double bond or a ring.   
     
     
       10. An image-forming method according to claim 6, wherein the photosensitive element includes a compound represented by the following general formula (9): ##STR169## wherein R 11  and R 12  each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 13  represents an aliphatic group or a group represented by the following general formula (Ab): ##STR170##  wherein R 14  represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 15  represents an aliphatic group, an aryl group or an amino group; and wherein R 11  and R 12 , R 11  and R 13 , R 12  and R 13 , and R 14  and R 15  may respectively be linked with each other to form a 5 to 7-elemented ring; three groups of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  may be linked with each other to form a bicyclic compound, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  is 10 or more, and at least one of R 11  and R 12  is an aliphatic group and furthermore, when R 11  (or R 12 ) is an aliphatic group and R 12  (or R 11 ) is an aryl group, R 13  represents a group represented by the general formula (Ab).   
     
     
       11. An image-forming method according to claim 7, wherein the photosensitive element further includes a compound represented by the following general formula (9): ##STR171## wherein R 11  and R 12  each independently represent a hydrogen atom; an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 13  represents an aliphatic group or a group represented by the following general formula (Ab) ##STR172##  wherein R 14  represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 15  represents an aliphatic group, an aryl group or an amino group; and wherein R 11  and R 12 , R 11  and R 13 , R 12  and R 13 , and R 14  and R 15  may respectively be linked with each other to form a 5 to 7-elemented ring; three groups of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  may be linked with each other to form a bicyclic compound, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  is 10 or more, and at least one of R 11  and R 12  is an aliphatic group and furthermore, when R 11  (or R 12 ) is an aliphatic group and R 12  (or R 11 ) is an aryl group, R 13  represents a group represented by the general formula (Ab).   
     
     
       12. An image-forming method according to claim 8, wherein the photosensitive element further includes a compound represented by the following general formula (9): ##STR173## wherein R 11  and R 12  each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 13  represents an aliphatic group or a group represented by the following general formula (Ab) ##STR174##  wherein R 14  represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 15  represents an aliphatic group, an aryl group or an amino group; and wherein R 11  and R 12 , R 11  and R 13 , R 12  and R 13 , and R 14  and R 15  may respectively be linked with each other to form a 5 to 7-elemented ring; three groups of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  may be linked with each other to form a bicyclic compound, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  is 10 or more, and at least one of R 11  and R 12  is an aliphatic group and furthermore, when R 11  (or R 12 ) is an aliphatic group and R 12  (or R 11 ) is an aryl group, R 13  represents a group represented by the general formula (Ab).   
     
     
       13. An image-forming method according to claim 9, wherein the photosensitive element further includes a compound represented by the following general formula (9): ##STR175## wherein R 11  and R 12  each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 13  represents an aliphatic group or a group represented by the following general formula (Ab) ##STR176##  wherein R 14  represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and R 15  represents an aliphatic group, an aryl group or an amino group; and wherein R 11  and R 12 , R 11  and R 13 , R 12  and R 13 , and R 14  and R 15  may respectively be linked with each other to form a 5 to 7-elemented ring; three groups of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  may be linked with each other to form a bicyclic compound, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms of R 11 , R 12  and R 13  is 10 or more, and at least one of R 11  and R 12  is an aliphatic group and furthermore, when R 11  (or R 12 ) is an aliphatic group and R 12  (or R 11 ) is an aryl group, R 13  represents a group represented by the general formula (Ab).   
     
     
       14. An image-forming method comprising steps: forming a first image on a photosensitive element by means of the method according to claim 5; and then forming a second image on a different recording material based on information of the first image. 
     
     
       15. An image-forming method comprising steps: forming a first image on a photosensitive element by means of the method according to claim 7; and then forming a second image on a different recording material based on information of the first image. 
     
     
       16. An image-forming method comprising steps: forming a first image on a photosensitive element by means of the method according to claim 5; reading image information from the first image; and then forming a second image on a different recording material based on the image information. 
     
     
       17. An image-forming method comprising steps: forming a first image on a photosensitive element by means of the method according to claim 7; reading image information from the first image; and then forming a second image on a different recording material based on the image information. 
     
     
       18. A processing element according to claim 1, wherein R 1  is a straight-chain alkyl group without a substituent and having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R 2  is either a straight-chain, branched-chain, or cyclic alkyl group without a substituent and having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a straight-chain, branched-chain, or cyclic alkenyl group without a substituent and having 3 to 5 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       19. A processing element according to claim 1, wherein R 1  is a straight-chain alkyl group without a substituent and having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and R 2  is either a straight-chain, branched-chain, or cyclic alkyl group without a substituent and having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or an allyl group. 
     
     
       20. A processing element according to claim 1, wherein R 1  is a methyl group, and R 2  is a straight-chain alkyl group without a substituent and having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an allyl group.